Beam holding means



Nov. 28, 1967 c. w. EUREY 3,355,029

BEAM HOLDING MEANS Filed 001;. 24, 1965 United States Patent Ofitice3,355,029 BEAM HOLDING MEANS Charles W. Eurey, Lincolnton, NC, assignorto Excel, Inc., Lincolnton, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina FiledOct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,510 9 Claims. (Cl. 21144) My inventionrelates to a rack for holding a beam during transport and storage and,more particularly, to such a rack having clamping means for preventingrelative movement of a yarn carrying beam with respect to the rack inwhich the beam is supported.

In certain textile industries, fabric is produced from a large number ofends of yarn which are obtained by a fabric manufacturer in packagesformed by winding the yarn onto a beam designed to be positioned on atextile fabric producing machine to supply the yarn for manufacturingthe fabric. A beam, which is a generally cylindrical spool-likestructure having a central axially extending barrel and two spaced apartend flanges connected to the barrel and known as beam heads, is shippedto a fabric manufacturer by a fiber manufacturer, stored by a fabricmanufacturer until the yarn packaged on the beam is needed in themanufacturing process, and subsequently returned to the fibermanufacturer. In order to facilitate handling of beams during transportand storage, beam racks have heretofore been provided to receive andsupport beams.

In attempts to prevent relative movement of a beam with respect to sucha rack, and the damage to the beam or the yarn wound thereon which isattendant to such movement, the horizontal members of a rack on whichthe beam heads rest have been provided with concave depressions formedto have approximately the contour of the outer circumference of the beamheads. Further, various blockingor chocking means have been provided toengage the outer periphery of the beam heads, to cooperate with thedepressions in preventing lateral rolling movement of a beam. Althoughbeam holding means of these types are widely used, damage to beams oryarn packaged thereon is not consistently avoided. More particularly, abeam may be jarred during transport, with resulting vertical bouncing onthe rack or axial movement of the beam with respect to the rack damagingthe beam or yarn carried thereon.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for protecting abeam and the yarn wound thereon against damage during transport andstorage, by locking the beam against relative displacement with respectto a rack in which it is carried. This is accomplished by providingmeans to lock the beam against vertical, lateral and axial movement withrespect to a rack in which it is supported. In accordance with thisinvention, axial and vertical clamping forces are applied to a beam torestrain the beam against movement with respect to the rack.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated,others will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a rack incorporating clamping means inaccordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view of a portion of the rack of FIGURE 1,showing the clamping means in greater detail;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the clamping meansshown in FIGURE 2, taken along the line 33;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating the position of themembers of the clamping means in a beam unlocked position; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view taken as indicated by 3,355,629 PatentedNov. 28, 1967 the arrow 5 in FIGURE 3, and showing the cooperation ofthe clamping means with a beam.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a rack 10 is there shownwhich is adapted to receive and support a beam 11 (shown in phantomlines) during transport and storage of the beam. The beam 11 comprises acentral axial cylinder 12, or barrel, of relatively small diameter and apair of spaced end flanges or beam heads 14, assembled with the barrel12 to form the generally cylindrical beam. Each beam head 14 has formedtherein a central axially directed opening 15, into which suitablesupport members of a textile machine may enter to support the beam 11during the textile fabric manufacturing process.

The rack 10 includes a pair of horizontally extending support members 16which are adapted to receive and support the beam heads 14 of the beam11. The upper surfaces of the support members 16 are provided withconcave depressions 18 formed therein, which are arcuate and formed on aradius identical to the radius of the beam heads 14, to engage anarcuate portion of the circumferential periphery of the beam heads 14.Vertical standards 19, which provide protection for the beam 11 and yarnwhich may be wound thereon and which may provide for stacking of anumber of racks and the beams carried thereby, side members 17 and beamend members 20 bracing the standards 19 complete the frame 10 structure.

In order to prevent relative movement of the beam with respect to therack in which it is supported, this invention provides means to lock thebeam 11 in position for transport or storage on the rack 10. Inaccordance with this invention, a clamping, or first, member 21 ismounted on each beam end member 20 of the rack 10, for axial andvertical movement with respect to a beam 11 supported on the rack andclamping engagement with the beam heads 14 of the beam. Moreparticularly, each clamping member 21 has a horizontal portion 22 whichrests upon the upper horizontal surface of a beam end member 20. Avertical portion extends upwardly from the horizontal portion 22, andhas a clamping face 24 directed inwardly toward the end surface of abeam head 14, when a beam 11 is positioned on the rack 10. Outwardly ofthe beam end member 20, the clamping member 21 has a downwardlyextending portion 25.

Each clamping member 21 is permitted to move yet retained in the desiredposition on the associated beam end member 20 by suitable means, such asa pair of clip members 26, secured to the beam end member 20. The clipmembers 26 provide a sufiiciently large vertical clearance, between thelower surface of the clip members and the upper surface of the beam endmember 20, to permit a small amount of vertical movement of the clampingmember 21, such as approximately three-eighths of an inch. The clipmembers 26 extend over the horizontal portion 22 of the respectiveclamping member 21 a sufficient distance to engage the vertical portionthereof and limit the axial movement of the clamping member 21 to retainthat member on the frame 10.

Each clamping member 21 additionally has a lateral projection 28(FIGURES 3, 4 and 5) preferably in the form of a metal strip welded tothe clamping face 24, which has a contour adapted to mate with at leastthe lower portion of the central opening 15 in a beam head 14, forreasons to be made more clear hereinafter. When the central open ng 15in a beam head 14 is circular (as here illustrated, for example, inFIGURE 5), the lateral projection 28 is given a part circular contour(FIG- URE 5).

A second, or wedging, member 29 is provided for cooperation andengagement with each clamping member 21, and mounted on the frame It formovement between a beam unlocked position and a beam locked position inwhich the respective clamping member 21 is engaged and moved intoclamping engagement with a beam supported on the rack. Preferably, eachwedging member 29 is an elongate bar member pivotally connected, at oneend thereof, to a beam end member 20, for pivotal movement between abeam locked position in which the member lies closely along the uppersurface of the beam end member 20 (right end in FIGURE 1) and a beamunlocked position in which the wedging member 29 is raised (left end inFIGURE 1).

In order to move a clamping member 21 axially of the beam 11 supportedon the rack to engage the end surface of a beam head 14 with theclamping surface 24 of the clamping member, insert the lateralprojection 28 into the central opening 15 of the beam head, and lock thebeam against relative movement with respect to the rack 10, a camsurface is provided on one of each pair of cooperating members, to beengaged by the other of the pair of members upon movement of the wedgingmember into the beam locked position. Preferably, each clamping member21 has a tapered cam surface 30, adapted to be engaged by the associatedwedging member 29 on downward pivotal movement of the same, to move theclamping member 21 inwardly toward a beam 11, or axially of the beam.

Simultaneously with movement of a clamping member 21 axially of a beam11 and into engagement with a beam head, the sloppiness of the fitbetween the hook members 26 and the horizontal portion 22 of theclamping member 21, together with a slight vertical misalignment of thelateral projection 28 with respect to the central axial opening 15 ofthe beam head 14, permits the clamping member 21 to rise vertically asmall amount, and no longer be directly supported by the upperhorizontal surface of the beam end member of the frame 10 (FIGURE 3).Accordingly, upon movement of the associated wedging member 29downwardly to the beam locked position, the lower edge of the wedgingmember 29 engages a clamping block element 31 carried by the horizontalportion 22 of the clamping member 21. With this engagement, a downwardforce applied to the wedging member 29 is transmitted to the clampingmember 21 and, by the engagement of the lateral projection 28 with thecentral opening 15 in a beam head 14, a vertically downward force isapplied to the beam head 14 to lock the same downwardly in the concavedepression 18.

Thus, two clamping forces are applied to a beam 11 upon actuation of thebeam clamping means of this invention. A first force is directed axiallyof the beam 11, restrains the beam against axial movement relative tothe rack, and results from the inward axial movement of the clampingmembers 21 and the engagement of the clamping faces 24 with the endfaces of the beam heads 14. A second clamping force is a verticaldownward force, restraining the beam against vertical movement relativeto the rack and resulting from the engagement of the wedging members 29with the clamping block elements 31, and transmitted through the lateralprojections 28 to the central openings 15 in the beam heads 14. Further,due to the mating form of the projections 28 and the depressions 18,lateral movement of the beam 11 relative to the rack is restrained.

In order to assure that a beam 11 is maintained in the locked position,and that relative movement of the beam 11 with respect to the rack 10 isprecluded, means are provided for securing the wedging members 29 in thebeam locked position wherein the above described clamping forces areapplied to the beam heads 14 of the beam 11. More particularly, the freeend of each wedging member 29 preferably carries a first threaded member32, in the form of a threaded rod having a handle at the upper endthereof and passing through a suitable bore in the member 29. Eachthreaded rod 32 is adapted to be engaged with a second threaded member34, such as a nut, mounted on the beam end member 20. Upon pivotalmovement of each wedging member 29 downwardly, and into the beam lockedposition to result in the application of clamping forces to the beam 11,the associated threaded members 32, 34 may be engaged to draw thewedging member 29 downwardly and secure the same in the beam lockedposition.

In order to release a beam from a beam holding means constructed inaccordance with this invention, the threaded members 32, 34 aredisengaged and each wedging member 29 is moved to the beam unlockedposition. Thereafter, the clamping members 21 are withdrawn from thebeam heads 14, as by an operator grasping the downwardly extendingportions 25, and the beam is released for removal from the rack.

It is considered apparent that the beam holding means and beam lockingmeans herein described and illustrated provide definite advantages overthe heretofore used beam racks, particularly in providing for locking abeam against axial, vertical, or lateral movement relative to a beamrack. While it is preferred to provide a beam clamping means at each endof a beam rack, in order to positively secure both ends of a beam inlocked position, it is to be understood that a clamping member locatedat one end of a frame and having a lateral projection and cooperatingwith a wedging member as described above would give rise to axial andvertical forces adequate to secure a beam in locked position, were theopposite beam head butted against the adjacent beam end member.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a rack for receiving and supporting duringtransport and storage a generally cylindrical beam having a pair ofspaced apart heads and a central axially directed opening in each head,means for securing a beam against displacement relative to the rack sothat damage to the beam is avoided, said means comprising:

a first member mounted on the rack for axial movement relative to thebeam supported on the rack and adapted to engage a beam head thereof andthe central opening therein,

a second member for engaging said first member and being movable betweenbeam locked and unlocked positions,

one of said members having a cam surface thereon adapted to be engagedby the other of said members upon movement of said second member to thebeam locked position so that said first member is moved axially of thebeam into engagement with the beam head thereof and the central openingtherein, and

means for securing said second member in the beam locked position.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first member has alateral projection contoured to enter into and mate with a lower portionof the central opening upon axial movement of said first member towardthe beam.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cam surface is onsaid first member.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second member ismovable downwardly into beam locking position to exert a downwardloading force on said first member.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second member isan elongate bar member pivotally con nected at one end thereof to therack.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said last mentionedmeans comprises cooperating threaded members on said second member andthe rack.

port and storage a generally cylindrical beam having a pair of spacedapart heads and a central axially directed opening in each head, theapparatus comprising:

a rack having horizontally extending members for receiving andsupporting the heads of a beam, clamping member mounted on the rack foraxial movement relative to the beam supported on said rack and adaptedto engage a beam head thereof, said clamping member having a lateralprojection contoured to enter into and engage a lower portion of thecentral opening therein,

wedging member for engaging said clamping member and being movablebetween beam locked and unlocked positions,

one of said clamping or Wedging members having a cam surface thereonadapted to be engaged by the other of said members upon movement of saidwedging member to the beam locked position so that said clamping memberis moved axially of the beam into central opening therein, and

means for securing said Wedging member in the beam locked position.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said cam surface is onsaid first member and said second member is movable downwardly into beamlocking position to exert a downward loading force on said first member.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means comprisescooperating threaded members on said second member and the rack.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,299,677 4/ 1919 Carroll.

2,896,871 7/1959 Woodrufl" 242-553 2,962,167 11/1960 Storey 211133,084,803 3/1963 Bayers 21113 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner,

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A RACK FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING DURINGTRANSPORT AND STORAGE A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BEAM HAVING A PAIR OFSPACED APART HEADS AND A CENTRAL AXIALLY DIRECTED OPENING IN EACH HEAD,MEANS FOR SECURING A BEAM AGAINST DISPLACEMENT RELATIVE TO THE RACK SOTHAT DAMAGE TO THE BEAM IS AVOIDED, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A FIRSTMEMBER MOUNTED ON THE RACK FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE BEAMSUPPORTED ON THE RACK AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A BEAM HEAD THEREOF AND THECENTRAL OPENING THEREIN, A SECOND MEMBER FOR ENGAGING SAID FIRST MEMBERAND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN BEAM LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITIONS, ONE OFSAID MEMBERS HAVING A CAM SURFACE THEREON ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY THEOTHER OF SAID MEMBERS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID SECOND MEMBER TO THE BEAMLOCKED POSITION SO THAT SAID FIRST MEMBER IS MOVED AXIALLY OF THE BEAMINTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BEAM HEAD THEREOF AND THE CENTRAL OPENINGTHEREIN, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SECOND MEMBER IN THE BEAM LOCKEDPOSITION.